NAIROBI, Kenya – Businessman Bundotich Zedekiah Kiprop, popularly known as Buzeki, has officially joined the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), ending years of sharp criticism of President William Ruto.
Buzeki, who twice vied unsuccessfully for the Uasin Gishu governorship, was received Thursday at the party’s Kilimani headquarters in Nairobi by Secretary General Hassan Omar and Executive Director Nicodemus Bore.
Speaking after formally registering as a member, the billionaire businessman lauded President Ruto for what he described as “transformative leadership” and vowed to mobilise support for his re-election in 2027.
“I want to thank the UDA Party for accepting us to be members. I have completed my registration and been received warmly, and I am now officially a member of UDA,” Buzeki said.
The businessman, who contested the 2017 and 2022 gubernatorial races as an independent, said his decision followed consultations with supporters across Uasin Gishu and the wider Rift Valley.
“We have come here during the day and not at night because we made a decision after deep thought. It is time to join the team that will transform Kenya. We don’t want to be left behind,” he added.
Buzeki urged his supporters to put aside past political rivalries and rally behind President Ruto, promising to “recover lost time” by vigorously campaigning for UDA.
In the 2022 election, he garnered 127,013 votes against Jonathan Bii of UDA, who won with 214,036. Buzeki also narrowly lost to Jackson Mandago in 2017.
He acknowledged that the opposition had previously secured more than 100,000 votes in Uasin Gishu, but expressed confidence that UDA would now consolidate its base in the county.
“We will compete on issues and ideas for all seats, from MCA to governor. This will be like a home match,” he declared.
The defection marks a significant political turnaround for Buzeki, who had been one of President Ruto’s most outspoken critics in the Rift Valley region.
